Flaherty will provide strategic direction and lead relationship building for the Heinz College in the nation's capital. He takes over for Robert C. Wilburn, who will retire in July after five years of service to the university.

"We are so pleased to have someone of John's stature leading our team in D.C.," said Heinz College Dean Ramayya Krishnan. "John has served in so many capacities in Washington — on the Hill, in the federal government, for political campaigns and in the private sector and with nonprofits. His ability to work effectively in so many policy areas and across the aisle with a number of stakeholders makes him an ideal leader for our efforts in D.C."

Flaherty has been at the intersection of public policy, business and politics for over three decades. His experience in government includes chief of staff roles in the executive and legislative branches, working with Republicans and Democrats at the U.S. Department of Transportation and in the offices of U.S. Reps. Anna Eshoo and Norman Y. Mineta, both of California. His private sector experience includes senior positions in Washington, D.C., public affairs firms and Wall Street finance, including the Carlyle Group. His foreign policy experience includes participating in official delegations overseas and leading rebuilding teams in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Flaherty also will teach in the Heinz College's Washington-based Master of Science in Public Policy and Management (MS-DC) program, which is designed to prepare future public-interest leaders to launch their careers in the U.S. capital. The MS-DC program combines the highly ranked Heinz College's public policy master's degree with work experience and the opportunity to build networks in the nation's capital. Flaherty's class will bring MS-DC students in direct contact with Washington-based leaders to learn about the realities and challenges of policy making and how top-level decisions get made.

"I am honored to become a member of such an outstanding college and great university," Flaherty said. "I believe CMU is well positioned to help find solutions for many of the major issues currently challenging policymakers in Washington, D.C. I look forward to helping Dean Krishnan and the faculty add to the accomplishments of Heinz College."

"When you meet John, it is clear that he brings a vast network of contacts and experiences that he can share with our community," said Lee Branstetter, associate professor of economics and public policy, who from 2011 to 2012 served as a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisors. "But beyond that, I was struck by John's strong motivation and commitment to serving as a mentor and investing in young people. That makes him an exciting choice for us in D.C., as we look to train thoughtful and impactful policy leaders."

Since its establishment in 2008, the MS-DC program has brought more than 125 students to the nation's capital for education and work experiences.

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John Flaherty, pictured above, has been at the intersection of public policy, business and politics for over three decades.